A statement was released on Wednesday evening.
A total of 17 schools have so far been assessed as having structural defects of a level that warrant protective interim works to be carried out prior to reopening on Monday.
The Department of Education confirmed on Wednesday that initial on-site structural assessments in relation to all 42 schools constructed by Western Building Systems were completed on Tuesday.
The summary position from the Department of Education, on the basis of all assessments completed to date, is:
- 11 schools cleared to open in full without further intervention
- 14 schools enabled to open in full following external intervention in the form of a fence around the building and protective decking
- 3 schools in which the ground floor will be enabled to open following the implementation of internal engineering solutions and external interventions
- 13 schools subject to ongoing structural assessment and analysis (outcome to be confirmed on Thursday)
- Phase 1 of Ardgillan Community College closed
On Wednesday evening, Western Building Systems released a statement following the Department of Education’s announcement.
WBS said:
“No details of the assessments have been shared with us. We do not know what any conclusions reached at this point are based on. So far, we have been invited to meet with the Department’s inspectors and officials at 13 of the 42 schools. We had insufficient time on site to make structural evaluations.
“What is becoming clearer is that schools previously certified for completion as being free from defects by the Department, and described less than twelve months ago by the then Minister as being built to the highest standards, are now being deemed to require remedial works. This includes schools where the Department’s own appointed Clerk of Works had a full-time presence on site. The same projects were also inspected and approved as compliant in line with the new building regulation control process.
“That such a turnaround is now being reached is troubling on a wider scale.
“Given the assessment process remains ongoing at this point, we are limited in what we can say.
“We wish to reiterate once more our recognition of the impact this has had on pupils, parents and teachers at the schools involved. While it remains unclear as to why and how we have reached this point, we are not walking away. We honour our contracts. We continue to engage with the Department and remain keen to meet the Minister.
“Hard work, innovation and high standards have underpinned our business for 35 years. The Department itself has awarded us contracts to build 42 schools over a 14 year period based on continuous quality of delivery. We are a reputable contractor who has always delivered to our contracts.
“There are two main parties to every school building project—the Department and the contractor. Each of these parties have several other qualified professionals assessing the tendering requirements, design, build and certification of every project. There are numerous legal contracts in place overseeing each project. Under the form of contract, the Department and its representatives have four weeks to decide on issuing certificates of substantial completion and making payments.”
A list of all the schools affected can be found here.
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